Local motorists convicted as part of drink/drug-driving crackdown

Melton drivers have been banned from the roads after being sentenced by magistrates sitting in Loughborough EMN-151109-150523001

Published:16:22Tuesday 22 December 2015

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Motorists from Ringmer, Barcombe and Hadlow Down have been convicted as part of Sussex Police’s Christmas 2015 crackdown on drink and drug-driving.

Todd Tidswell, a shop employee, of The Broyle in Ringmer, was arrested in Lewes Road, Brighton, on December 4 and charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis, driving without insurance, possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (December 21) and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, a £180 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Adrian Hawthorn, 57, a builder, of Mongers Lane in Barcombe, was arrested in Uckfield Road, Ringmer, on December 4 and charged with driving with 53mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (December 21) and was disqualified from driving for 14 months. He was also ordered to pay a £230 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £23 victim surcharge.

John Bransby-Zachary, 42, a financial consultant, of Main Road in Hadlow Down, was arrested on the A22 at Halland, on December 5 and charged with driving with 67mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (December 21) and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £550 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £55 victim surcharge.

Alecio Vieira, 33, a waiter, of Newmarket Road in Brighton, was arrested on the A27 Beddingham roundabout, near Lewes, on December 6 and charged with driving with 106mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (December 21) and was disqualified from driving for 15 months. He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, and pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

A total of 137 arrests have now been made since the campaign launched on December 1. Of these, 72 have been charged.

Chief Inspector Andy Gooch said: “With Christmas just around the corner, we will be continuing to target motorists who think it is ok to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs. While we encourage people to enjoy the festivities, it is important that they do so without putting their own lives - and others’ - in jeopardy.

“Such actions can lead to devastating consequences, and we are committed to ensuring the roads in Sussex are safe during the festive period and throughout the year.